Family members and friends tell of the dreams and achievements of victims lost in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting

A woman cries as she bows her head in prayer during a vigil at the Parkland Baptist Church, for the victims of the Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida on February 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

AP — When a gunman opened fire with an AR-15 at a large high school in south Florida, he claimed the lives of students with their whole lives ahead of them, along with those of the teachers who tried to protect them. Five of the victims were Jewish, four students and one teacher. Here is a look at the 17 people who authorities say died in the deadly shooting Wednesday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland:

14-year-old looked out for underdogs

This undated photo provided by Abbie Youkilis shows her niece, Jaime Guttenberg. Guttenberg was a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, and was killed when former student Nikolas Cruz opened fire at the school February 14, 2018. (Abbie Youkilis via AP)

“She always looked out for the underdog and the bullied and she probably had been kind to the (former) student who shot her,” Youkilis said in a written statement sent to The Associated Press.

Youkilis called for gun-control legislation, saying Jaime’s parents were “the world’s most loving and over-protective parents but they could not protect Jaime from the sickness that has gripped our country.”

‘An angel taken away from us’

Meadow Pollack’s parents called her phone repeatedly only to hear it ring, as they kept an anxious vigil outside the hospital. But on Thursday, her father, Andrew Pollack, confirmed that his daughter was among the dead, the Palm Beach Post reported.

Eighteen-year-old Pollack, a senior, had planned to attend Lynn University, her father said.

Meadow Pollack (WSVN-TV via JTA)

“Her life was taken way too soon and I have no words to describe how this feels,” friend Gii Lovito posted on Facebook.

Family friend Adam Schachtel said in a Facebook post that “an angel was taken away from us in that horrific tragedy … no words can be said so just prayers and sadness.”

Victim’s family: ‘Live for Alyssa!’

An amateur soccer club said one of its players, Alyssa Alhadeff, was among the students killed in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Alyssa Alhadeff (Oregon Youth Soccer Association/Facebook via JTA)

Parkland Soccer Club posted on its Facebook page that Alhadeff, 14, was a “loved and well-respected member of our club and community.”

The club posted a note it said was from her family which read: “To Alyssa’s Friends honor Alyssa by doing something fabulous in your life. Don’t ever give up and inspire for greatness. Live for Alyssa! Be her voice and breathe for her. Alyssa loved you all forever!”

It is with great sadness that one of our beloved Parkland Soccer Club players was one of the victims of the shooting…

Memorial for band member

Trombone and baritone player Alex Schachter was a “sweetheart of a kid,” according to a social media post by his family.

People attend a candlelight vigil for the victims of the Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida,, February 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

In honor of his 14-year-old freshman son, a relative of the youth’s father, Max Schachter, wrote on a gofundme page that he was starting a scholarship fund “to help other students experience the joys of music as well as fund increased security at schools.”

The message said: “Please help keep Alex’s spirit alive.”

Geography teacher helped students

Students said geography teacher Scott Beigel, 35, helped them enter a locked classroom to avoid the gunman and paid for the brave act with his life.

Scott Beigel (Bonnie Mann Falk/Facebook via JTA)

“If the shooter would have come into the room, I probably wouldn’t be speaking to you now,” student Kelsey Friend told Good Morning America.

Friend said when she heard gunshots and realized it wasn’t a drill she followed other students toward the classroom.

Beigel “unlocked the door and let us in,” she said. “I thought he was behind me, but he wasn’t. When he opened the door he had to relock it so we could stay safe, but he didn’t get a chance to.”

Student Bruna Oliveda said she saw Beigel blocking the door.

“I don’t know how we’re alive,” she said.

Coach and security monitor

Assistant football coach Aaron Feis was shot to death while selflessly shielding students from bullets. A tweet from the school football program ended: “He died a hero and he will forever be in our hearts and memories.”

This photo taken from the Facebook page of Aaron Feis shows him with an unidentified girl. Feis, a football coach at Marjory Stonemason Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida., was fatally shot when former student Nikolas Cruz opened fire at the school on February 14, 2018. (Facebook via AP)

Feis, 37, graduated from the school in 1999 and worked mainly with the junior varsity, the team website said. It said he lived in nearby Coral Springs with his wife and daughter.

The team website said Feis spent his entire coaching career at Marjory Stoneman after playing there as a student.

The Sun Sentinel reported that Feis, acting as a school security guard, responded to the original call on a school walkie-talkie. Someone on the radio asked if loud sounds they heard were firecrackers, said football coach Willis May, who also carries a radio.

“I heard Aaron say, ‘No, that is not firecrackers.’ That’s the last I heard of him,” May said.

Friend won’t get to say ‘I graduated high school’

Joaquin Oliver, 17, was known by his nickname “Guac,” short for “guacamole,” because many couldn’t pronounce his first name.

Attendees pray together at a vigil for the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School at the Parkland Baptist Church February 15, 2018, in Parkland, Florida. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

“My friend will literally never get to say, ‘I graduated high school,'” said Tyra Hemans, a 19-year-old who said she had been friends with Oliver since they were freshmen.

Hemans said she last saw her friend at school the day of the shooting.

“It was just a brief ‘Happy Valentine’s,'” she said. “He was with his girlfriend and I was just like, ‘Oh my God, you guys are so cute.'”

She added, “He’s just a goofball. He’s the only kid you’d know that would dye his hair bleach-blond, walk around school, put some tiger stripes in and just be unique. He was a unique soul.”

Athletic director ‘was just amazing’

A married father of two and the athletic director at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Chris Hixon wasn’t shy about jumping in wherever he was needed, said friend and one-time colleague Dianne Sanzari.

This undated photo shows Chris Hixon, the athletic director at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Hixon was killed when former student Nikolas Cruz opened fire at the school on February 14, 2018. (Susan Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Hixon, 49, belonged to a Roman Catholic church in Hollywood. The Archdiocese of Miami confirmed his death Thursday.

When a volleyball team needed a fill-in coach, Hixon took over; the same thing happened with the wrestling team, Sanzari said. And when the school needed someone to patrol the campus and monitor threats as a security specialist, Hixon did that, too.

It was in that security role that Hixon apparently came within range of the shooter.

‘Selfless service

Fourteen-year-old Alaina Petty was among those who died in the shooting, her family confirmed in a statement.

Attendees pray together at a vigil for the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School at the Parkland Baptist Church February 15, 2018, in Parkland, Florida. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

“It is important to sum up all that Alaina was and meant to her family and friends. Alaina was a vibrant and determined young woman, loved by all who knew her. Alaina loved to serve,” the statement read, adding that she had joined volunteers who “rushed to the most heavily impacted areas of Florida to clean up and help rebuild the lives of those devastated by Hurricane Irma. Her selfless service brought peace and joy to those that had lost everything during the storm.”

Petty attended a local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Petty was a “valiant young member of the Coral Springs Ward,” Church leader Stephen E. Thompson wrote in an update.

Balloons for the victims

Shooting victim Martin Duque, 14, was one of Isaac Briones’ best friends.

“He was like, one of the nicest people I knew,” said Briones, 15. “He was so caring.”

A post shared by Miguel???? (@miguelduq19) on Feb 15, 2018 at 12:01am PST

Briones said he last saw Martin the day of the shooting during first period.

“We were just playing around, talking about jokes and stuff,” said Isaac, who was outside the school Thursday with others holding a group of white balloons for the victims.

On Instagram, Miguel Duque wrote that words can’t describe the pain of losing his brother. He added: “I love brother Martin you’ll be missed buddy. I know you’re in a better place. Duques forever man I love you junior!!! R.I.P Martin Duque!”

Freshman color guard member

Shooting victim Gina Montalto was a 14-year-old freshman who participated on the winter color guard squad at the school.

This photo taken from the Facebook page of Shawn Malone Reeder Sherlock shows an undated photo of her niece, Gina Montalto, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Montalto was killed when former student Nikolas Cruz opened fire at the school February 14, 2018. (Facebook via AP)

Swimming scholarship winner

Nicholas Dworet, 17, had committed to swim for the University of Indianapolis.

The college announced Thursday that the senior was among those killed in the mass shooting at his high school.

Hello TS Parents,It's with a heavy heart that I/We have to announce that our family member, teammate, TS Aquatics swimmer Nick Dworet has passed away. He was an amazing person as well as a great swimmer. A happy young man who embodied the values of our program. A young man who had changed his life recently and was on a major up swing in his life.Nick you have touched everyone on TS Aquatics in one way or another, whether it was your smile , your jokes or your very positive attitude. You will be forever be missed. Please take your time to send his parents some compassion through this very very difficult time.

In a statement, UIndy swimming coach Jason Hite called Dworet an “energetic and very vibrant kind” who cheered for his soon-to-be university during a swimming meet last month.

“I spoke with his mom this morning, and she reiterated the fact that he was really looking forward to this next step in his life and becoming a Hound,” said Hite. “He really felt like he had a family in the team, and was really excited about what we’re doing up here.”

ROTC student

Peter Wang, a 15-year-old ROTC student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, wasn’t interested in status but wanted to help others, relatives said.

A cousin, Aaron Chen, told the Miami Herald that Wang was last seen holding a door open so others could get away from the gunman.

Friends and relatives first thought Wang was just missing and checked with area hospitals. They later found out he had been killed.

“He wasn’t supposed to die,” Chen told First Coast News.

Family searched hospitals, and then…

Fifteen-year-old Luke Hoyer was a loving, sweet person who loved basketball and “smiled all the time,” his aunt Joan Cox said.

“He was just a good kid … very loving and just enjoyed life,” said Cox, of Greenville, South Carolina.

She said Luke’s parents, Gena and Tom Hoyer, searched for their son at hospitals before finally going to the law enforcement command center, where they eventually learned he had died.

“It’s just a terrible thing,” said Cox, who said the family — including Luke’s older sister Abby and brother Jake — spent Christmas with her and other family in South Carolina. “We just all pretty much can’t get over it.”

“Although somewhat reserved, she had a relentless motivation towards her academic studies and her soft warm demeanor brought the best out in all who knew her,” another relative, Curtis Page Jr., wrote on Facebook.

“She was so brilliant and witty, and I’m still wrestling with the idea that she is actually gone,” he wrote. “She would have started college next year.”

Relatives of victim ‘absolutely gutted’

Cara Loughran, 14, was an excellent student who loved the beach and her cousins, according to her family.

Update from my Aunt: (2/15/18 at 9am): Cara’s parents were given the news no parent ever wants to hear at 2am. Please…

An aunt, Lindsay Fontana, wrote on Facebook: “I had to tell my 8-year-old daughters that their sweet cousin Cara was killed in the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School yesterday. We are absolutely gutted.”

“While your thoughts are appreciated, I beg you to DO SOMETHING,” she wrote. “This should not have happened to our niece Cara and it cannot happen to other people’s families.”

Loughran’s neighbor posted a picture of her cheering on a young boy riding a bike with training wheels.

“RIP Cara,” Danny Vogel wrote, “and fly with the angels. You will be greatly missed, and we will always love you and celebrate your beautiful life.”

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